Basque Names and Surnames

The movie ends and the credits role: are you looking for Basque names? Most Basque surnames are readily identifiable because they follow a small number of set patterns. The vast majority are not derived from an ancestor but rather from the family's etxea, the historically all important Basque family home. Basque first names are also distinctive.

The earliest historical reference to Basque names are from the Roman era two millennia ago and they were written in Latin form (e.g., "Enneconis" which was the Basque name Eneko plus the Latin ending -is for "Enekoitz"). Then during the medieval period Basque names were usually written using the spelling conventions of Spanish and French (e.g., many Basque surnames in the Iparralde or northern Basque country acquired an initial 'd' from the French 'de' so Urarte became Duhart). Then with the recent introduction of Euskara Batua, or standard Basque spelling conventions, Basque names have undergone another change (e.g., the Spanish Echepare and French Detchepare in Euskara Batua becomes Etxepare).

Image from J. Etxegoien, Orhipean: Gure Herria ezagutzen Xamar: 1992.

Basque surnames are usually recognizable because of the common use of certain elements and endings (noting the spelling variants). The traditional "etxea" or Basque home had a name, as illustrated above, and most Basque surnames derived from that source. These Basque surnames fall into two categories: a description of the family home or the first owner of the home. As seen above in the image, the home nearest the bridge is called "Zubiondoa" from Zubi (bridge) and ondoan (nearby). The home in the lower center is "Bidartea" from Bide (road) and artean (between). Above that is the home "Juanarena" from the name Juan (John) and arena (belonging to). Above that in the center is "Apezetxea" from Apez (priest) and etxe (house). The far right home is "Mendialdea" from Mendi (mountain) and aldean (alongside).